CAA confirms April ‘too soon’ for Atol reform

Jan 31, 2012 12:00PM GMT

The government’s planned Atol reform will not be implemented in full from April, the Civil Aviation Authority has admitted.

CAA consumer protection group director Richard Jackson said the reforms would come in in April, but businesses will not be expected to fully comply until October.

He told the parliamentary transport select committee today: “It will be difficult for the industry to be ready by April because it can’t move finally until the Department for Transport announces its decision.

“I will be surprised if all the changes will come in in April. There will be a sensible implementation phase. We will wait until probably October 1 for all the changes required to be made to systems.”

Disney Wonder to sail out of Miami

By Donna Tunney

Disney Cruise Line for the first time will homeport a ship in Miami, starting in December.

The 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder will operate mostly four- and five-night sailings through May 2, 2013.

The Disney Fantasy, which will enter service in March, and the Disney Dream will continue to sail a variety of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from Port Canaveral, Fla.

The Disney Fantasy will operate eastern and western Caribbean sailings, while the Disney Dream will sail three-, four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

The cruise line, which unveiled its 2013 schedule on Jan. 24, has added more destinations to its European lineup, including Venice and the Greek islands.

Beginning June 1, 2013, the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic will return to the Mediterranean with new itineraries, including a four-night option and 12-night sailings in addition to seven-night itineraries.

The new 12-night sailings visit destinations such as Venice and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast on one itinerary and Ephesus, Turkey, and the Greek isles on another. All cruises depart from Barcelona.

Additionally, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney will offer passengers land-sea vacations in the Mediterranean. Available on select departures, three- or four-night land packages will be offered in Barcelona and Madrid prior to the cruise.

The 2,700-passenger Disney Magic, which will begin sailing from Galveston, Texas, in 2012, will continue to sail from that port through May 2013 before redeploying to Europe.

In Alaska next year, the Disney Wonder will operate a series of seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, starting May 27.

Beginning May 27, 2013, the Disney Wonder will sail seven-night cruises from Vancouver to Tracy Arm, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

MSC: OUT with Worrall Thompson, IN with Paul Rankin

1. Official Press Release

   MICHELIN AWARD WINNING CHEF PAUL RANKIN TO SET SAIL WITH MSC CRUISES

   It is with regret that MSC Cruises announces that Antony Worrall Thompson will no longer be performing a series of culinary demonstrations on board MSC Splendida next month.

   The company is however delighted to inform its guests that Michelin award winning chef Paul Rankin will be joining MSC Splendida in Barcelona on Sunday 5th February 2012. A series of appearances at sea on Monday 6th February will then see him showcase some of his best loved dishes – and a selection unique to MSC.

   One of the UK’s most popular chefs, Paul Rankin won Northern Ireland’s first Michelin Star, whilst his trailblazing Cayenne in Belfast is among the country’s top restaurants. A regular on TV shows such as Ready Steady Cook and Ten Mile Menu and the writer of numerous best-selling books, Paul is also a passionate supporter of local produce, so much so that in 2002 he launched The Rankin Selection, a range of traditional foods now stocked in supermarkets throughout the UK.

   

   Paul will be joining MSC Splendida on her 8 day, 7 night cruise departing 4th February 2012 (Genoa, Barcelona, Valletta, La Goulette (Tunisia), Civitavecchia (Rome), Marseille, Genoa).